Reloading machine



June 6, 1961 L. MARTIN 2,986,965

RELOADING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 19, 1

INVEN TOR.

June 6, 1961 L. 1.. MARTIN RELOADING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR. fi mmafi/m War/Wu,

June 6, 1961 L. L. MARTIN 2,986,965

RELOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 if I 1 Fl #11: I w% i i f! All il lh l 3 -T 7 4M 21 l J BY W M 2,986,965 RELOADING MACHINE Leonard L. Martin, 90 Stivens Terrace, Ludlow, Mass. Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,761 6 Claims. (CI. 86-23) This invention relates to improvements in machines adapted for use for cartridge shell or case reloading operations.

According to the principal objects of the invention a machine is provided which is arranged and adapted for operating the coacting dies or tools used in reloading cartridge shells, cases, and the like.

It is common practice among hunters, rifiemen and others using rifles, guns, and pistols to reload their cartridge shells, and cases. Such involves and requires coacting dies and tools for various functions, such as for sizing shells and cases, removing and inserting primers, inserting projectiles, and numerous other operations.

According to novel features of the machine of this invention, means is provided for holding and operating the co-operating components of various dies and tools used in the shell reloading operations, and is characterized by means in combination therewith, for asserting the required and necessary force to the die and tool components for the accomplishment of their intended functions.

According to one novel feature of the invention, a turret is provided with plural means for holding components of various dies or tools. The turret is rotatable and locked in an operating position wherein a selected component is positioned in stationary alignment with a coacting component of the die or tool carried by a movable member. The movable member is moved towards and away from the turret for the coaction of the components.

Certain coacting components of dies and tools used in reloading operations require considerable pressure or force to perform their function. The novel features of the machine hereof are arranged whereby a movable member is adapted to apply the desired and required force and pressure to the end that the tool and die components are readily operated, and force or pressure is applied to the movable member in a direction opposed to the direction of the movable member whereby the desired force or pressure is accomplished efliciently.

The machine of the invention is strong and rugged, occupies small space, and is easily and readily operated by the user, in various reloading operations.

Various novel features and advantages of the machine of the invention will be observed from the following description of the invention hereinafter disclosed in the present preferred form thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine of the invention with various parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the motor support of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rear portion of the motor support;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the front end of the machine shown in FIG. 1:

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional View on the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the rear end of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2; and

Patented June 6, 1961 FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the stroke limiting means of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the novel features and advantages of the invention will be fully described.

The machine of the invention includes a supporting structure having what may be termed a front frame 2 and a rear frame 4, which are secured together to provide a unitary structure.

The front frame 2 has transversely spaced vertical columns or side portions 6 which are supported by feet 8. The rear frame 4 includes transversely spaced feet 10 which are tied together by a transverse web 12.

Elongated longitudinally extending rods or tubes 14 are fixed at opposite ends in the feet 8 and 10 thereby to tie the front and rear frames 2 and 4 respectively together in spaced relation and to provide a strong and rigid structure.

Vertically extending ways 18 are secured to the front sides of the side portions 6 of the front frame by bolts or screws 20, and form a vertical guideway 22 therebetween.

The side portions 6 of the front frame are connected at their upper ends by a transverse member 24, and intermediate their lower and upper ends they are tied together by one or more transverse portions, such as 26. The portions may be tied or connected together in any desired manner.

A plate 28, as in FIG. 1, is secured by one or more screws 30 to the upper side of the transverse member 24. A turret 32 is rotatable on a vertical axis on a bolt 34 of the plate 28.

The turret 32 is provided with a plurality of apertures 36 which are adapted to receive and hold components of reloading dies or tools.

Said turret is releasably locked in an operating position wherein the component of a die or tool in one aperture thereof is positioned over the guideway 22. For this purpose, a lock bolt 36' is slidable up and down in the plate 28. A shaft 38 is oscillated in the side members 6 by means of a forwardly extending, manually engageable crank 40. Said lock bolt 36 has a depending stem 42 which is received in the forward bifurcated or forked end of a lever or arm 44 fixed to the shaft 38. Collars 46 fixed to the stem 42 are disposed above and below the arm 44.

The lock bolt 36 is shown as seated in one of a number of sockets '48 provided in the turret 32., whereby the turret is locked with a selected aperture and die component therein over the guideway. To release the turret for rotation thereof, the shaft 38 is turned counterclockwise by the crank to move the lock bolt and stem downwardly. A spring 50 around the stem 42 between a bracket 52 fixed to transverse member 26 and a collar 54 on the stem urges the stem and lock bolt upwardly to turret locking position.

The upper ends of the Ways 18 are circumferentially slotted to snugly receive peripheral portions of the turret at upper and lower sides thereof so that upper ends of the ways overlie the periphery of the turret. Such holds the turret against such upward deflection as may be caused by upward force or pressure applied to a component in the turret by a component carried by a slide 58.

The slide 58 is disposed between the ways 18 and has opposite side portions 60 slidable on forward and rear faces of said ways so that it is slidably guided for up and down movements. The slide is shown in its lower position.

The upper end of the slide is provided with an aperture 62 for receiving and holding a component of a die for coacting with a die component carried by the turret.

Die components carried by the turret and slide coact for their function as the slide moves upwardly to its upper position. In certain reloading operations, considerable pressure is required, and means for actuating the slide in such a manner that it applies the desired force or pressure'is provided. V

A pair of elongated lower links 66 have lower ends pivoted on a pivot 68 of the side portions 6 of the front frame. A pair of similar upper links 70 have upper ends on a pivot 72 of the lower portion of the slide 58.

Inner ends of the links of the pairs thereof are pivoted on a pivot 74 of a crosshead 76. A spacer 78 is disposed between the lower links 66. Thus the crosshead linkage is pivotal-1y connected to the front frame and the slide which is movable relative to said frame.

The pairs of links are shown in collapsed relation, in the lower position of the slide. The crosshead is acted upon by a force applied thereto in a leftward direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to move the slide upwardly. That is, the crosshead is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby to propel the slide upwardly. The crosshead is moved to the right to move the slide downwardly.

Force may be aplied to the crosshead by any suitable means, but for illustrative purposes, a member 80 is shown. This member 80 is in the form of an elongated drive screw that is reciprocated by means to be described. The screw acts on the crosshead in a direction opposed to, and substantially transversely to, the direction of movement of the slide for etficiency in operation.

As in FIG. 8, a support 82 has cars 84 depending therefrom at the rear end thereof which are swingable on a horizontal shaft 86 that is oscillatable in the members at the rear end or frame 4 of the machine. The shaft 86 has collars 87 and 89 secured to opposite ends thereof. Said support 82 extends forwardly from the shaft 86 and below its forward end is provided with a housing 88. See FIG. 9.

Anti-friction bearings 90 of suitable form, within the housing, have rotatable therein an internally threaded nut 92 which is in threaded engagement with the screw 80. A'driven disc 94 having a conical face 96 is fixed in suitable manner to said nut 92. The bearings, nut and disc are arranged relative to the housing in such manner as to be held against axial movement.

As the disc 94 is rotated in one direction or the other, the screw 80 is accordingly reciprocated in one direction or the other to act on the crosshead 76 and thereby move the slide upwardly or downwardly.

A motor base 100 is supported by the member 82 and is oscillatable horizontally on the upper side thereof. For such movements, a pivot bolt 102 extends upwardly through a portion 82 of the support 82 on which the motor base is journalled. The motor base 100 is restrained against separation from the support in its swinging movements by hold down bolts 101 of the support which extend through slots 103 of the base. See FIG. 2.

An electric motor 106 is secured to the motor base 100 in suitable manner, and pulleys 108 and 110 are fixed to opposite ends of a shaft 112 of said motor.

The inner or forward end of the motor base 100 at opposite sides is provided with depending bearings 114 and 116. See FIG. 2. Shafts 118 and 120 rotatable in said bearings 114 and 116 have pulleys 122 and 124 fixed to outer ends thereof. An endless belt 126 connects the pulleys 108 and 122. An endless belt 128 connects pulleys 110 and 124.

Driving members 130 and 132 are fixed to inner ends of the shafts 118 and 120. The driven member 94 and the members 130 and 132 are provided with friction faces whereby either driving member may be engaged with the driven member for rotating the latter in one direction or the other, thereby to reciprocate the screw in one direction'or the other.

When the motor 106 is energized, the driving members 130 and 132 are simultaneously rotated. The motor base being oscillatable in opposite directions on the support 82, that drive member will be engaged with the driven member according to the direction of movement of the motor base.

A shifter or bar is horizontally oscillatable or swingable on the upper side of the motor support 100 by being pivoted on the member 102; -An elongated operating lever 142 has a depending portion 144 fixed in a hub 146 on the shaft 86. The portion 144 of the lever extends through a notch 148 at the end of the bar 140. As the lever' 142 is swung up and down in opposite directions, the shifter" bar is swung thereby in opposite directions. 7 p 7 'Bolts 150 and 152 are secured to the bar 140 adjacent its opposite ends, as shown in FIG. 3. Said bolts are hollowed out and have detents, such as 154, which are urged downwardly and outwardly by a spring 156 between the detents and a plug 158 in the upper end of the bolt.

Elongated keepers 160 and 162, at opposite sides of the motor base 100, are pivoted thereto, as at 164, so as to swing up and down. These keeper's extend rearwardly, and terminate adjacent stops 164 and 166 which are secured to the rear end of the motor base at opposite sides thereof and below opposite ends of the bar 140.

See FIGS. 4 and 8.

engage drive member 130 with the driven member 94.

Lifters, such as 170 in FIGS. 1 and 3, are disposed below thekeepers, and are fixed to opposite ends of the shaft 168. Said lifters are arranged, as the shaft is turned in one direction, to elevate one keeper, such as 160, and depress or elevate the detent of the bolt 150 thereabove, and as the shaft is turned in an opposite direction, to similarly depress or elevate the detent of the bolt 152. In the extended position of a detent, it abuts an adjacent stop, on movement of the bar, so as to swing the motor base and engage a driver with the driven member.

The shaft 168 is rocked in one direction or the other, accordingly as the screw 80 reaches opposite ends of stroke.

The dentents are depressed by operation of mechanism disposed below the support 82. As the slide reaches its upper or lower position, that detent which causes the swinging of the motor base to engage a drive member with the driven member is depressed whereby the shifter bar is disconnected from the motor base.

An arm disposed beneath the support 82 is fixed to the shaft 168 and has a tube 181 turnable therein. See FIGS. 9 and A second tube182 is yieldably held in the tube 181 by detents 184 which are urged into a groove 186 thereof by springs 188. a

A rod 192 extending through the tube 182 has a forward collar 192' fixed thereon, and nuts 194 are adjustable on the rod 192. A member 196 fixed to the rear end of the screw 80 slides on the rod 192. -As the screw reciprocates back and forth, the member abuts the collar 192' or the nuts 194 to swing the arm 180.

Assume that the motor base 100 is swungrcounterclockwise by engagement of detent 154 and stop 164 to engage one ofthe drivers with the driven member, so that the screw 80 is moving forwardlyor to the left. At the end of the stroke of the screw, the member 196 thereof engages collar 192' of rod 192 so that arm 180 and shaft 168 are turned clockwise. Such swings keeper 170 clockwise so that it swings lifter 160 upwardly, whereby the lifter depresses the detent 154 so that the stop 164 is dis engaged thereby. Thus the pressure bar does not exert swinging action on the motor base, and eliminates operating pressure of the one drive member on the driven member. With the motor base swung clockwise by the detent of bolt 152, and the screw moving rearwardly, to the right, the screw member 196 at the end of the stroke engages the nuts 194 so that arm 180 is swung counterclockwise to the end that the keeper beneath lifter 162 elevates the detent of bolt 1'52, thereby breaking its connection with the stop 166.

The parts shown in FIG. are adjustable so that the length of stroke of the screw, and thereby the stroke of the slide, is adjustable to that desired.

The parts are so arranged that only slight pressure up or down on the lever 142 is required to swing and hold the shifter bar 140 in the direction. Also the construction is such that the drive members assume a neutral position free of the driven member on completion of a driving operation.

It will be observed that the reciprocating member connected to the crosshead applies force or pressure thereto in a direction opposed to the normal upward movement of the slide. Also it will be seen that the link connections actuating the slide are interposed between the slide and supporting structure whereby the operating force is transmitted smoothly and positively to the slide for efiiciency in operation.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired to be limited, if at all, by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. In a machine for actuating coacting shell loading dies comprising, a supporting structure including spaced vertically-disposed interconnected front and rear frames, the front frame of said supporting structure including a vertically extending guideway and a turret disposed upwardly of the guideway and rotatable relative thereto in a horizontal plane thereabove, the turret carrying a plurality of circumferentially-spaced die holding means, a slide vertically movable in the guideway and carrying a die holding means, the die holding means of said turret being vertically alignable with the die holding means of said slide, pairs of toggle links connected to said supporting structure and said slide and a crosshead therebetween, a lead screw power means engageable with the crosshead for actuating the cross head in forward and rearward directions substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said slide, a support pivotally mounted on the rear frame of said supporting structure and being swingable on an axis generally transverse to the axis of movement of said power means, a nut journalled in said support and threadedly engaging said power means, a motor base pivoted on said support for swinging in opposite directions along a horizontal plane, a driven member fixed to said nut, a pair of driving members journalled in said motor base on opposite sides of said driven member for independent engagement therewith accordingly as said motor base is swung, a motor fixed to said motor base and being operatively connected to each of the driving members of said pair thereof, actuating means for swinging said motor base in opposite directions, engageable and disengageable connections on said actuating means, means operable by the lead screw in its reciprocation in opposite directions for selectively engaging and disengaging said connections accordingly as said screw rotates.

2. In the machine as set forth in claim 1, with said driven and driving members including frictionally interengageable coacting faces.

3. A machine of the class described comprising, a supporting structure having a vertically extending guideway and a turret rotatable in the forward portion thereof, said turret being provided with apertures for die components, means for releasably locking said turret against rotation with a selected aperture thereof in operative position over the guideway, a slide reciprocable vertically in the guideway and provided with an aperture for holding a die component in operative position relative to a die component in the selected aperture of the turret in the upper position of said slide, relatively movable members for moving said slide vertically and including link members connected to said structure and slide and a crosshead connected to said link members, a shaft in the rear portion of said supporting structure disposed on a horizontal axis generally transverse to the vertical axis of the guideway, a vertically movable support pivoted on said shaft, a unitary driven member and internally threaded nut rotatable in said support on an axis transverse to the axis of said shaft and transverse to the guideway, a propelling screw connected at its forward end to the crosshead and being threadedly engaged with said nut, a motor base mounted on a pivot on said support for swinging horizontally in opposite directions, drive members rotatable in said motor base for engaging opposite sides of said driven member, a motor on said motor base, driving connections between said motor and drive members, a shifter bar on the pivot swingable in opposite directions, means for swinging said shifter bar, separate engageable connections carried by said motor base and shifter bar whereby said motor base is swung by said shifter bar, and means operable by the reciprocation of said screw in opposite directions for disengaging one or the other of said connections.

4. Machine for actuating coacting shell loading dies comprising, a supporting structure including front and rear frames, the front frame of said supporting structure including a slide guiding means, a slide reciprocable in a straight-line motion in and relative to the slide guiding means of the front frame of said supporting structure between a non-operative position and an operative position, a multi-die-component assembly supported on the front frame of said supporting structure and carrying a plurality of primary die components, said slide carrying a secondary die component for coacting with a selected primary die component of said multi-die-component assembly, said multi-die-component assembly being adjustable relative to the front frame of said supporting structure for aligning the selected primary die component thereof relative to the secondary die component of said slide, a toggle type operating means for reciprocating said slide and including lower and upper links pivotally connected at respective lower and upper ends to the front frame of said supporting structure and said slide respectively, a lead screw being reciprocable forwardly and rearwardly relative to said supporting structure for driving the lower and upper links of said toggle type operating means pivotally connected thereto, a support pivotally mounted on the rear frame of said supporting structure and being swingable on an axis generally transverse to the axis of movement of said lead screw, a nut journalled in said support and threadedly engaging said lead screw, a motor base pivoted on said support for swinging in an are along a horizontal plane, a driven member fixed to said nut, a pair of driving members journalled in said motor base on opposite sides of said driven member for independent frictional engagement therewith accordingly as said motor base is swung, a motor fixed to said motor base and being operatively connected to each of the driving members of said pair thereof, actuating means for swinging said motor base in opposite directions, and engageable and disengageable connections on said actuating means with the driving members of said pair thereof being selectively brought into operating contact with said driven member by means of the pivoting of said Men: of said lead screw in either dire'ctionfor the relief of pressure on said driven member.

References Cited in the file of this patent said motor base at the extreme of the reciprocal move- 10 2,318,814

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ashton et'al. Aug. 1, 1916 Derry Nov. 22, 1927 Siebert et a1. June 11, 1935 Strong May 11, 1943 

